The Acura TLX is a Dream Drive

It comes as a bit of a surprise to realize that Acura’s most popular sedan, the TLX, is about to enter its fourth year.

The TLX was, from the very beginning, a sound package. The arrival in 2018 of the TLX V6 A-Spec should pique the interest of buyers seeking a sportier car with the choice of front- or all-wheel drive.

Setting this model apart are its tuned chassis and wheel and tire upgrades, meant to enhance the car’s sporting credentials. This is reinforced with some unique styling touches, including modifications to the front grille and some rear-end upgrades that include a gloss-black deck lid spoiler and smoked LED taillights.

Inside, the front seats feature more bolstering and a thicker rim for the leather wrapped steering wheel. Gauges have red highlights.

In the past, we have been impressed by both of the engines that power the TLX. The 206-horsepower, 2.4-liter is peppy and fuel-efficient. The 290-horsepower V6 is notable for its refined power. The four-cylinder motor uses an efficient dual-shaft eight-speed automatic transmission and comes only with front-wheel drive. Dual shaft automatics are generally not known for their smoothness, but this one is an exception, thanks in part to its use of a torque converter coupling between the engine and transmission.

The V6 is offered with a nine-speed automatic that has been recalibrated for a more refined feel. V6 buyers can take either the standard front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Front-wheel drive models with either engine use Acura Precision All-Wheel Steer, or P-AWS, which features independent left and right rear-wheel toe angle control to enhance handling precision, low-speed maneuverability, and high-speed stability.

Our last outing in a V6 TLX proved that this engine could serve as the poster child for V6 perfection. It's smooth, powerful, flexible, and even reasonably economical. Excursions toward the motor’s 6,800 rpm redline produced only a sporting snarl. The nine-speed automatic shifted well on wide-open-throttle runs but dithered when it was time to downshift for added punch when passing or merging. Sixty miles per hour arrived in six seconds flat. The ride in the TLX is composed, quiet and comfortable over just about any surface. The car feels solid over rough pavement, even big potholes. Handling is good. While it's not a sports sedan, the TLX is fun to drive. It feels balanced and secure. We look forward to trying the A-Spec.

The front seats are very comfortable. While the back seat cushions are supportive, the space is tight for adults. The trunk is roomy, but its lid is small, a common problem with cars today. It makes it difficult to get some items into the trunk. The rear seat backs are split and fold to expand the cargo room.

An optional feature that was included on the last TLX car we reviewed were the Advance and Technology packages. In addition to several convenience features and a good-sounding 10-speaker ELS Audio upgrade with HD radio reception, this package now also includes navigation, blind spot, and rear-cross traffic alert warnings as well as rain- sensing wipers and smart entry. All of these items, and more, are standard in the new A-Spec trim level.

Standard on all models are an effective lane-keep assist system that will actually steer the car through corners, and adaptive cruise control, which keeps a preset distance from the car ahead and will even apply the brakes to avoid a collision.

While these devices are a safety net for the driver – they do not substitute for driver alertness – their presence suggests that fewer drivers of TLXs with this equipment should leave the road or crash into the car ahead. These systems do not work under all conditions and that the driver remains the most important safety component in this and all other cars.

We were enthusiastic about the four-cylinder TLX right after Acura introduced the vehicle in 2015. The V6 with its “super handling” all-wheel drive, which can direct torque individually to the rear wheels to aid cornering, was even better. Adding to the TLX’s appeal is a surprisingly low starting price for a car that competes in the entry-level luxury field.

Paula Says:

The Acura TLXs we’ve had in the past were a dream to drive. The TLX was particularly dreamy when equipped with the optional safety systems that lent a level of semi-autonomy to its operation. These now come standard, including active cruise control and lane-keep assist. Blind-spot warning with the rear cross-traffic alert system is optional on the four-cylinder and base V6 models for 2018 but come on the new A-Spec.

The TLX is not overly roomy, and the central controls for the infotainment and climate systems, with the Honda-Acura dual-screen setup, is complex. The seats are supportive but low. That of course means that a shorter driver like me will have her visibility limited at intersections, and it can make getting in and out of the car a bit of a challenge, especially if the car is parked close to a curb. Fuel economy is good, however. We averaged 27.8 miles per gallon with a V6 all-wheel drive review car.